Crossing signal



Dec. 1924- 1,517,741

w. M. MANSFIELD CROSSING SIGNAL Filed Feb. 25, 1924 IlllIl' U o Li: 4 w 4 )1 f awuautoz Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. MANSFIELD, OF KREOLE, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO V. B, i PIRCE, OF KREOLE, MISSISSIPPI.

CROSSING SIGNAL.

Application filed February 23, 1924. Serial No. 694,696.

To all whom it may] concern.

Be it known that \VILLIAM M. h lANsFinLD,

a citizen of the United States, residin at Kreole, in the county of Jackson and S tate 5 of Mississippi, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crossing Signals, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway crossing signals, and it consists in the novel features 10 hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a signal of simple structure adapted to be positioned at the intersection of a surface road with a railway track and including a signal panel which is normally disposed parallel with the roadway, there being means connected with the. panel and disposed along the track rails and adapted to be operated by the flanges of the rolling stock moving over the railway track to move the panel to a. position transversely of the roadway and thereby warning the occupants of vehicular traffic vehicles and pedestrians of the approach of the train or rolling stock upon the rail track toward the crossing.

Means are provided for returning the signal panel to its normal position after the train or rolling stock has passed the crossing. In one form, this returning means in 3 cludes a retractile spring for returning the panel to normal position, but in lieu of such spring, an electrically operated apparatus may be employed if desired.

A modified form of the invention includes a motor having a shaft operatively connected with the signal panel to turn the same. The motor is connected in open circuit with a generator, preferably batteries, and included in the open circuit are circuit closing elements which are disposed at the side of the railway track rail and which are closed by the flanges of the wheels of the rolling stock to complete the circuit and turn the signal panel to danger or caution position. In this latter form of the invention, the spring means are employed for returning the panel to its normal position after the train or rolling stock has passed over the crossing.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of the crossing signal.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of the crossing signal.

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of the modified form of signal.

As indicated in the accompanying drawing, a surface roadway is shown at l and intersects or crosses the railway track 2. A post 3 is positioned at the sides of the roadway 1 and track 2 and in the vicinity of the point of intersection thereof. The post 3 is journalled upon a pedestal 4: which is planted in the ground. A signal panel 5 is fixed to the upper portion of the post 3 and is normally disposed parallel with the roadway 1 and transversely of the track 2. An electric bulb 6 is mounted upon the upper edge of the panel 5 and electric wires '7 connect with the bulb 6 in a usual manner and when current is connected over the wires, the bulb 6 is illuminated and the signal panel may be visible at night.

A disk plate 8 is fixed tothe lower portion of the post 3 and rests upon the upper end of the pedestal 4. A cab-1e 9 is connected at one end with the peripheral portion of the disk 8 and the intermediate portion of the cable 9 is trained around a pulley 10 journalled at the inner edge of one of the rails of the track 2. From the pulley 10, the cable 9 is extended parallel with the said rail and is connected at its other end with a flat spring 11 which is positined at the inner side of the adjacent rail of the track 2. That end of the spring 11 which is disposed toward the post 3 is fixed to the rail of the track 2 as at 12 and the opposite end portion thereof is slotted longitudinally as at 13 and the said slot receives a pin 14 which is mounted upon the web of the adjacent rail of the track 2. The intermediate portion of the spring 11 is bowed upwardly above the upper side of the head of the adjacent railway track 2. An arm 15 is fixed t0 the disk 8 and a spring 16 is connected at one end with the end of the arm 15 and connected at its other end with a lug 17 mounted upon the pedestal 4.

Therefore as the train approaches the roadway 1 and moves over the track 2, the flanges of the cars or rolling stock will successively encounter the intermediate bowed portion of the spring 11 and the said spring is elongated whereby the cable 9 is moved longitudinally and the panel 5 is swung from a position parallel with the roadway 2 to a position transversely thereof. This movement takes place as the flange of each wheel encounters the spring member 11. After the flange passes over the memberll, the tension of the spring 16 comes into the play and the post 3 is turnedthereby the panel 5is'movedba'ck to a position parallel with the roadway 2. 7

Therefore as the train or rolling stockis approaching the roadway 1, the signal. panel 5 is swung over and toward the roadway l and away from the same and thus a moving signal is displayed to those who may be travelling upon the roadway l and this signal will serve as a caution or danger signal to warn the traflic over the roadway.

Inthe form of the invention as illustrated in Figures 3 and spot the drawing, a coil spring 16 is disposed around the post 3 and connected at one end with the post and at its other end with astandard 18 located adjacent the p'ostl 3. The spring 16' is tightened when the panel 5, is moved over the roadway and when the panel is'released, as hereinafter explained, the spring 16 returns the panel 5 to its normal position. The post 3 is connected by an escapement device 19 with the shaft of an electric motor 20. The motor 20 is connectedin open circuit by means of wiring 21 with an electric generator 22, preferably batteries; A circuit closer switch 23 is connected with one terminal of the wiring 21 and is disposed along the rail of the track 2. The intermediate portion of the switch 23 is upwardly curvedand when encountered by the flanges ofthe wheels of the cars, the said circuit closure switch 23 comes in contact with a terminal 24 in the wiring 20' and whereby the circuit from the generator 22 to the motor 20 is closed. This energizes the motor 20 and rotates the shaft thereof whereby the post 8 is turned. As the shaft of the motor 20 turns, the panel 5 is swung to a position parallelev'itli the roadway 1 to a position transversely thereof and when the shaft of the motor 20 comes to a state of rest, the panel 5 is returned to its normal position under the influence of the spring 16. The escapement device 19 permits the post 3 to turn back to its normal position wthout affecting the shaft of the motor 20.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

A crossing signal adapted to be used at the intersection of a railway track and a highway road comprising a spring member fixed at one end to the side of one rail of thetrack and having an intern'iediate portion bowed above the upper surface of the said rail and provided at its free end with a slot, a pin carried by the rail and passing transverseliv through the slot, a cable connected at one end with the free end portion of the spring and disposed transversely across the point at which the spring is lined with relation to the rail and extended along the rail, a posterected adjacent the track and mounted r01- turning movement, a dish mounted upon the post, said cable passing partially around the disk and being secured thereto, an arm fixed adjacent the post, a spring'connectedwitlithe arm and the disk and serving to hold the post in a normal position and the cable in a taut condition, and a signal carried by the post.

Iii-testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

W. M; MANSFIELD.

Ill 

